I felt like the timeline in this book was way too fast. His wife leaves him with his newborn baby and within days he has a new nanny and they are getting close. I feel like the author tried to make it better by having him and his wife have issues so he wasn't necessarily in love with her before she left, but it still felt very rushed. Not badly written, just plot wasn't great.

Great story and great chemistry between the main characters! Well paced plot and excellent spice along with humor. Definitely recommend!

I received this title as an ARC from NetGalley.

This was a cute hockey star-nanny romance. In a rush to leave the UK after a bad nanny experience, Finley moves to the US to work as a nanny for famous NHL star, Jason Locke. Jason's wife has just left him with a newborn daughter and he's bound to make sure his daughter gets all the best. Unfortunately, this means he tends to mansplain childrearing to his new nanny and get in her way. After putting him in his place, Finley and Jason continue to build respect and friendship for each other that slowly builds to romance. Will they be able to get past his ex-wife, his stalker, and her history, to stay together?

This was a cute run-of-the-mill hockey star romance. I wish there had been another chapter showing the dissolution of the marriage between Jason and his ex, and also more details in the chapters with the stalker to build tension. The 3rd act drama was fairly minimal, or I probably would've rated this higher. It seemed a little too easy for this couple to get over their hurdles.

Thank you Netgallery and the author for the arc for this book.

If you love a cozy hockey romance, you would probably like this cozy read. The story follows the life of Jason Locke who is an NHL player for the San deigo Barricuddas. His wife who suddenly wants a divorce after giving birth to their baby Aria. Jason's mother decides that he needs a full time nanny to help look after Aria. This is where Finley a British bad ass nanny who is trained to do anything life throws at her comes in.

At first Finley is overprotective, grumpy and strictly wanting to stick to what she was hired to do. But as time goes on, she begins to relax and slowly becomes friends with Jason before falling in love with him. That's when the stalker that has been posting about Jason for years comes out to play for good. Leaving the question has Finley's years of training prepared her for what she has to face?

My thoughts are that the book is a good cozy read if you like a sports romance book, at points of the book it was slow but not slow enough that you want to stop reading it. I enjoyed the plot and loved it showed character developments and history of the characters also

Description: NHL player and single dad Jason Locke needs a nanny who can protect his baby from a deranged fan. Finley Pigott-Smith, Having graduated from a British nanny college specializing in defensive arts, is all that and more. Things heat up pretty rapidly between these two. Unfortunately, when @RoxieLuvsJason finds out they’re a couple, zeal turns to obsession and suddenly, posting her fantasies on social media isn’t enough for her. My biggest complaint about this book and the reason I took off one star is that it was pretty predictable and it is kind of boring in parts. Lots of good things about the book too, but I don't want to spoil anything. All in all a good 4 stars.

"On the Rebound" by Kate Willoughby delivers a charming and heartwarming romance that blends humor, steamy chemistry, and a touch of suspense. NHL player and single dad Jason Locke finds himself in need of a nanny to protect his baby daughter from a deranged fan, and Finley Pigott-Smith seems like the perfect fit with her unique set of skills and irresistible charm.

What makes this book stand out is the dynamic between Jason and Finley. Despite their initial clashes and misunderstandings, their attraction is undeniable, leading to sizzling chemistry and tender moments that will melt readers' hearts. Willoughby skillfully builds their relationship, allowing it to develop naturally and believably as they navigate the challenges of balancing work, family, and romance.

The characters are well-developed and endearing, with Jason's protective instincts and Finley's fierce independence adding depth to their personalities. Their banter is witty and entertaining, providing plenty of laughs along the way. Additionally, the inclusion of Jason's adorable daughter adds a sweet and heartwarming element to the story, highlighting the importance of family and love.

The suspenseful subplot involving the deranged fan adds an intriguing layer to the romance, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as they root for Jason and Finley to overcome the obstacles in their path. The tension builds steadily throughout the book, culminating in a gripping climax that will leave readers eagerly turning the pages.

Overall, "On the Rebound" is a delightful and engaging read that combines romance, humor, and suspense in all the right ways. With its lovable characters, steamy romance, and captivating storyline, this book is sure to satisfy fans of contemporary romance looking for a heartwarming and entertaining escape.

Finley is a nanny who has graduated from a nanny college in the UK. Initially she gets a job working for the Prime Minister but it forced to leave due to a scandal which sees her flying out to the US to become the nanny for Jason’s newborn daughter, Aria. Jason is a professional hockey player who has just become a single Dad. You could tell Finley takes her job seriously and at first Jason is cold towards her. He has a crazy fan and those around him are worried about his and his daughter’s safety. With Finley’s training, she is the perfect nanny for the job and Jason begins to trust her.

Despite Finley wanting to stay professional and Jason not looking for love, the pair can’t deny their attention to each other.
Jason is such a doting Dad and it was adorable reading about him and Aria.

Unfortunately while enjoying the first half i kind of lost excitement in the second half. I loved the character of Jason but have mixed feelings towards Finley. The plot was good but just a little too predictable towards the end. This was the first book I’ve read by this author but would like to read more from them in the future.

♥️Finley for the win!!♥️
 
Okay, so “On the Rebound” wasn't exactly a "drop everything and read it again NOW" kind of situation, but let me tell you, Finley is a character that will stay with you. Seriously, this British nanny is a force of nature—smart, funny, badass, and capable of handling anything a stalker or even grumpy hockey player and his adorable baby can throw at her. 

Jason is the brooding, recently separated first-time dad to 3-month-old Aria. He’s a pro hockey star who basically lives for his baby girl, and then there's Finley, who had to move away from England due to a situation with her previous placement as a nanny. When they initially clash, it's equal parts adorable and laugh-out-loud funny. 

Now, I'm a sucker for a good hockey romance, and this was an enjoyable book, but it just didn’t quite hit the mark, with a couple of things holding me back from giving it 5⭐️.

First, the story is told in third person, which isn't my favourite style. I feel it can create a bit of distance between the reader and the characters. Second, the romance moves at lightning speed, from the first kiss to finding a new house together. It felt a tad rushed, to be honest. Lastly, I just found the twists in the story very predictable, whether intentional or not. I just like to be a little shocked.

But even with those minor bumps, I enjoyed reading this book! It's light, heartwarming, and good to unwind after a long day, with characters you can’t help but like.

📚ARC review - I was kindly given this advance review copy by Victory Editing by NetGalley Co-op in exchange for my honest review 📚

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
The description of this sounded so good - a hockey romance with a single dad and a nanny that have chemistry… when I read this, there wasn’t a lot that kept me captivated… the romance happened quickly and seemed like they kiss and then bam! They are so in love and planning a life together. Overall, it was an ok book, but not one that I would read again.

Well, darn. This book started off really well, and I had high hopes for a solid 5 stars. I loved the idea of a kick-arse British nanny turning an American pro-hockey player's life upside down. And at first, it seemed that's where we were going. But about halfway through, it just gets sluggish.

The author takes time to establish Jason's and Finley's situations (i.e., the reason he needs a nanny and she needs to leave London). Most notably, Finley had a bad experience as the nanny for the Prime Minister. It seemed odd that the news didn't follow her to the States. Had her client been an average family (even a wealthy one, perhaps even minor nobility), I could have bought the idea that the news didn't cross the pond. But the Prime Minister?And then she comes to San Diego to nanny for a famous pro athlete? The chance of the truth coming out is even greater.

That's just one of the stretches that threw me off. Others, without getting too detailed, include uberdad Jason not researching her background prior to hiring her (letting his mom do it), Jason's ex's total lack of presence (I get it, but I don't get it), and the not entirely believable relationship between our two main characters.

I really like both Jason and Finley. I think I just wanted a more gradual (and hotter) growth of their relationship. I also wanted to see more Charlie's Angels and a little less Mary Poppins in Finley, as well as a better developed and believable element of suspense (like, throw in a red herring or two). And finally, I was disappointed not to have resolution with regard to Finley's issue back in England.

I'm a bit all over the place, I'm afraid (recovering from jetlag and a cold). In short, it's a good novel but could be a great one.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

This was my absolute favorite of the whole series.

I loved Finley and Jason, their relationship is realistic but also that right touch of insta love.

This looks so good! I love Kate Willoughby work. I also love the aspect of a dad being so protective towards his daughter. The ekenen5 of suspense makes this one great and I also think readers are going to enjoy finding out what made the British nanny flee as well. I absolutely cannot wait to share more thoughts on this one and I really think readers looking for heart, suspense, and spice are going to love this one!

First I want to say thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me to arc read this. I am an absolute sucker for hockey romances, or single dad/nanny in this book you’ll find the following.
-Sports romance (MMC HOCKEY)
-single dad/nanny
-age gap 10 years
-Crazed fan who’s obsessed with the MMC
The things I absolutely love about this book is it gives off total Mary poppins vibes from the FMC the MMC comes off as grumpy but (with reason) he’s totally adorable with his sweet daughter and does come around to the FMC. This book had me laughing in several parts of the book it also had me sad at times, excited and on the edge of my seat wondering who is the crazed fan. The FMC is from London but after a bad nannying experience she ends up nannying for Jason. Will they be able to fight for their relationship with this crazed fan? Who is it? And why? It is in third person pov it was a tad bit confusing in the beginning but that’s cause I’m used to reading first person dual pov. I found the plot to be super interesting that I didn’t mind the 3rd person. I would recommend to anyone who loves the above tropes it’s not a fast pace romance but it’s also not incredibly slow to where it drags you can feel the tension between them. Would absolutely read again